kimschouwenaar's reviews
351 reviews

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

bit of an abrupt ending and miscommunication trope almost done right. pretty solid 4-star read.
Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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emotional inspiring reflective sad

5.0

Weyward by Emilia Hart

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Zijn jongen by Carry Slee

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.75

The King's Men by Nora Sakavic

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Wake Up, Nat & Darcy by Kate Cochrane

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

for two women in their thirties, why are they so immature? I couldn't tell the difference between college Nat and Darcy and post NHL-players/olympians. Bad execution of the miscommunication trope and I found both MCs annoying before I even got halfway through. If only they could just TALK like the ADULTS they were supposed to be. The banter and forced proximity were pretty nice, it remains superficial from beginning to end. We get the whole college-history flashback in pieces, but it still doesn't explain why, after a decade, they're still at each other's throats. It's great that Cochrane brings some much needed attention to misogyny in the NHL, but we only get a glimpse of it and with the overall unenjoyable romance, the rating remains at 2.5 stars.

Also, and I am fully aware that this is a personal opinion (as all reviews are), but I couldn't stand the voice of the narrator and how it changed between regular speech and a 'husky' voice during the spice. Most likely added to my overall opinion of this book and kept it below 3 stars for me.
Home by Toni Morrison

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

not my favourite toni morrison, but she is unmatched when it comes to themes concerning race, class and community. would reread.
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

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adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

The Witch of New York: The Trials of Polly Bodine and the Cursed Birth of Tabloid Justice by Alex Hortis

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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

Sociopath by Patric Gagne

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challenging dark funny hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

4.0

honest and eye-opening.